ADDIS ABABA – The ancient Indian philosophy behindyoga, the mind-body discipline now practised the world over, on Thursday joinedUNESCO’s list of "intangible" world heritage.

The discipline was added to the prestigious list in recognition of itsinfluence on Indian society, "from health and medicine to education and thearts," the World Heritage Committee said in a statement.

"Designed to help individuals build self-realisation, ease any sufferingthey may be experiencing and allow for a state of liberation, (yoga) ispractised by the young and old without discriminating against gender, class orreligion," UNESCO added in a tweet.

The list of "intangible" cultural treasures was created 10 years ago,mainly to increase awareness about them, while UNESCO also sometimes offersfinancial or technical support to countries struggling to protect them.

On Wednesday, the Paris-based UN body meeting in the Ethiopian capitalAddis Ababa added Cuba’s rumba dance and Belgium’s beer culture to the list,which also includes the Mediterranean diet, Peking opera and the Peruvianscissors dance.